Description:

The purpose of the New Mexico Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP) is to provide repayment for outstanding student loans of practicing health professionals. As a condition of the program, a health professional must make a two year service commitment to practice full-time in a designated medical shortage area in New Mexico. The HPLRP is a competitive program. Application to the program does not guarantee funding.

Award:

The maximum allowable award is $25,000.00 per year. Factors which may affect the award amount include the applicant's amount of student loan debt and available funding for the program. Recipients are eligible for renewal upon completion of a two-year obligation.

Eligibility:

U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien

New Mexico Resident (12 consecutive months)

Licensed or certified in the state of New Mexico by the date funding begins (July 1st)

Employed full time (40 hours a week)

Preference is given to graduates of New Mexico public post-secondary institutions

* A New Mexico Professional License is REQUIRED by the date funding begins.

I am employed at a federal facility that does not require a New Mexico Professional License, do I still need one to receive HPLRP funding?

Yes, a New Mexico Professional License is still REQUIRED by the date funding begins for the HPLRP.

Eligible Health Occupations:

The following health occupations are given priority in funding:

Advance Practice Nurses

Allied Health Care Providers

Allopathic Physician

Dentists

Optometrists

Osteopathic Physician

Physician Assistants

Pediatricians

* Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses do not qualify for this program.

Eligible Sites:

NMHED does not keep a specific list of eligible sites. However, NMHED will not consider for-profit sites or private practice sites. Most not-for-profit publicly funding sites as well as Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Mexico will score higher.

Scoring Process:

The Health Advisory Committee reviews each individual application, assigning a score using a matrix in the following areas:

HPSA Score (Federal)

Service Area

Area Health Statistics Key Indicators (determined by the New Mexico Department of Health)

Population Served

Priority will be given to those applicants working in designated areas of greatest need. Decisions on funding are made on a case-by-case basis and all ranking is at the discretion of the Health Advisory Committee.

Funding:

The program is federal and state funded. Health Professionals practicing in federal Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) will be offered federal funding first and will receive the highest priority. Health Professionals eligible for state funding only will have the application reviewed by the Health Advisory Committee. The committee will use the approved scoring procedure to rank the applicants.

Awards:

Payments are made on the quarterly basis to the loan servicer directly upon verification of employment for the quarter.

Obligation:

HPLRP is a serious commitment to the underserved citizens of New Mexico. Therefore, all participants are expected to complete their service obligation. If a program participant does not comply with the terms of the participation agreement, the department shall assess a penalty of three times the amount of the award disbursed, plus eighteen percent interest.

When to Apply:

The HPLRP application opens every year on March 15th and closes May 1st. Applications will have to beRECEIVED by the Financial Aid Office at the New Mexico Higher Education Department by 5:00PM on May 1, 2017. Applications postmarked with the date of May 1st and received after the deadline date will not be considered, the application must be RECEIVED by the deadline.

Where to Apply:

The application will be available on this page starting March 15th and will be removed from the page on the closing date of May 1st.

CURRENT PARTICIPANTS ONLY - Please complete the form in full, scan and email to fin.aid@state.nm.us on or before October 15, 2016. Employment Verification Forms received after October 15, 2016 will not be accepted. Faxed and mailed forms will no longer be accepted. For questions, please contact the New Mexico Higher Education Department at 1-800-279-9777 or fin.aid@state.nm.us.

Highlights

When you provide a check as payment, you authorize the State of New Mexico to either use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction

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